SOURCE WEBSITES

How to draw OK-RAH

By Linda Farmer, CZT ~ September 13th, 2017

Ok-rah is a new grid-based tangle from fellow Floridian and CZT Liza Buckley who lives in our state capital Tallahassee way up there in the Panhandle. Ok-rah is her first on the site. Liza is a member of the 14th class of Certified Zentangle Teachers®.

Ok-rah is our second grid-based tangle this week and what I love about these (all types of grid tangles) compared say to free-form tangles is that there is no question in your mind where the next stroke is going to go. I think more than any other type of tangle, grid tangles are the essence of the Zentangle Method™ — no planning, just one stroke after another until you’re done.

Liza writes,

This summer a good friend has been working on an okra project, and my husband has been participating by growing lots of okra — lovely greens and reds. I have been surrounded by okra this summer!

After spending time sketching, photographing and eating okra, a pattern emerged.

Liza shares this photo of her Ok-rah inspiration:

Liza illustrates the step-by-step instructions for drawing Ok-rah below where she includes two lovely examples. The first is a monotangle white Zentangle® tile and the second a very pretty Renaissance Tan Zendala tile.with variations in the “seed” colors and fills.

Image copyright the artist and used with permission, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Please feel free to refer to the steps images to recreate this tangle in your personal Zentangles and ZIAs, or to link back to this page. However the artist and TanglePatterns.com reserve all rights to these images and they must not be publicly pinned, reproduced or republished. Thank you for respecting these rights. Click the image for an article explaining copyright in plain English.

As you enjoy any of the tangles on the site, please do leave a comment of thanks and encouragement to show the artists you appreciate them for sharing their creativity to inspire yours.

Check out the tag lizab for more of Liza’s tangles on TanglePatterns.com.

Enhance your Zentangle experience ...

BRAND NEW! TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE, 2018 Edition

The newest Edition of my TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE. This instant-download 60-page digital eBook contains all the tangles on the site from May 2010 through December 31, 2017. Containing over 1,000 tangles, it's a must-have tool for using the site.

"Linda, Thank you! I was relying on too few and getting stuck after 3 years of daily working with Zentangle. This has inspired me to ‘begin again’ with renewed excitement." ~ Barbara R.

Visit the BOOK REVIEWS page for more details on its features and view a sample page.

Visit the STORE > E-BOOKS page for more information and support TanglePatterns.com by getting your copy now!

Remember you can get your official Zentangle supplies here too, including the fabulous Zentangle PRIMER Vol 1. It's your CZT-in-a-book by the founders of Zentangle®! Visit the STORE tab on the top menu bar or click on the image. For more about the content and to read the rave reviews, visit the BOOK REVIEWS tab.

"Absolutely the best Zentangle Book yet! As an accomplished artist I used to think I did not need instruction on this art form. How wrong I was! My tangling improved by leaps and bounds after reading this book. If you think you have Zentangle down then you need this book more than ever!" ~ Kris H

Another great jump-starter for new tanglers is the original Official Zentangle Kit. The Kit includes all the supplies you'll need to get started properly: Sakura Micron Pens, Zentangle Tiles, pencil, sharpener, tortillion, a booklet and an instructional DVD by co-founder Maria Thomas. Click on the image for more information about the Kit and its contents.

This pattern attracted me at once because it is so unusual. I like its ornate extravagance. An eye-catcher for sure. I also want to weigh in on grid patterns vs. free form because I believe that neither is more in the spirit of ZT practice but rather there is a personal preference involved. For me, grid patterns involve more planning and thinking than free form because there tends to be more of a “right” and “wrong”. I feel much more confined when drawing grid patterns and a more frequent need to consult with the instructions. Free form patterns on the other hand, such as Flux or Printemps, can just be drawn according to my inclination and mood. I can put them here, I can put them there. I can vary their size and shape. Overall, I find them more relaxing and “Zen” to draw than grid patterns! But I know that many of my students like the grid patterns for exactly the reasons you state, Linda. I think that it is great that there differpnt kinds of patterns to choose from so everyone can find the Patterns that bring on the “Zen” for their individual style…as well as challenge themselves with the others.

Comment on Jennifer Hohensteiner`s comment –
I like both free-form and grid patterns, though I tend to design more grid ones. I think I have an unavoidable “obsessive compulsive” side to me that needs boundaries, hence the grid ones, but I do enjoy free-form ones too, and sometimes design new ones as I go along!

Ironically, I have always leaned more towards free form and had more difficulty with grid patterns. I was so stunned that my first pattern emerged as a grid pattern! The surprises that arrive through the Zentangle process are such a joy.

TanglePatterns depends on support from users like you. If you enjoy this unique Zentangle® resource, please chip in now to help make sure it continues to exist.
Your gift counts, no matter the size. Thank you so much.